Brown Denies Hoffman to Claim Singles Title at Connecticut State Championships

Jason Brown. (Photo by Robert Batista '15, Yale Sports Publicity)

Oct 28, 2012

Hoffman Doesn't Go Away Empty-Handed, Wins Doubles with Powers

NEW HAVEN, C.T. – The Yale men's tennis team wrapped up a successful weekend at the Connecticut State Championships on Sunday and ended its fall season on a high note, as the Bulldogs came away with both the singles and doubles titles. Playing at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center, freshman Jason Brown continued his exceptional breakout season by claiming the singles crown, while Yale's top team secured victory in the doubles draw.

The Connecticut State Championships featured a storybook final of contrasts Sunday, as senior captain Daniel Hoffman, the No. 1 seed and defending champion, came up against Brown, the No. 2 seed. Hoffman was looking to win his second Connecticut title in as many years, while Brown was looking to secure his third singles main draw win of his incredible rookie season. When the final ball had been struck, it was Brown who emerged victorious, as he upended his elder classmate in a tight affair, 6-4, 6-4. The win extends Brown's season record to a team-best 17-1 mark and puts him on a five-match winning streak to end the fall stretch. Both finalists had defeated fellow classmates in the semifinals, as Brown had overcome sophomore Daniel Faierman, the No. 4 seed, 6-4, 6-2, while Hoffman had edged out the No. 3 seed, freshman Martin Svenning, 6-4, 6-4.

Hoffman, for his part, was not to be completely denied, as he teamed up with senior Marc Powers to best the Yale team of junior Patrick Chase and senior John Huang in the doubles final, 8-2. In doing so, the senior duo, ranked No. 54 in the nation, solidified its position at the top of the Yale doubles hierarchy. Furthermore, that the Connecticut State Championships doubles final featured a clash of Yale teams reinforced the notion that the Elis will be a threat to win the doubles point in any match come spring.

The Connecticut State Championships was the final tournament of Yale's fall season, though the Bulldogs may still have players selected for an at-large berth in the USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships in November. The next definite event on the Bulldogs' calendar is a scrimmage against Brown University in January of 2013.